Dear Friends, I have just been diagnosed with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. I have severe rectal and abdominal pain with periods and a recent laparoscopy ruled out endometriosis, but discovered extensive varicosities in the pelvic area. I have been told there is no treatment for this condition. I am having a colonoscopy next week to check that area, and then my doctor wants me to start a medicine that will induce early menopause to stop my periods since she can't do anything for the veins. I am only 31 and am afraid of this. I have been having a hard time finding information on Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. I would truly appreciate similar stories, advice, herbal remedies, anything! Thank you! Linda

HELLO, I SAW YOUR LETTER STATING THAT YOU HAVE PELVIC CONGESTION SYNDROME.....I AM 32 AND JUST HAD THE SAME SURGURY AS YOU AND THEY FOUND THE VEINS AS WELL...I HAVE SEVERE PAIN AT THE TIME AND AROUND MY PERIOD...ALSO DURING OVULATION...BUT I HAVE GOOD NEWS.....ITS TREATABLE IF THIS IS YOUR CONDITION..I AM HAVING SURGY IN A FEW WEEKS ...YOU NEED TO SEE A RADIOLOGIST, ABOUT THE VEINS, THEY GO IN AND SCOPE THEM OUT AND IF THERES A PROBLEM THEY FIX IT...ITS A EASY OPERATION, OUT PATIENT AND NO ANASTISIA, JUST PAIN DRUGS AND NUMBING STUFF......I WAS TOLD BY MY RADIOLIGIST THAT THIS IS NOT A HIGHLY RECOGNIZED PROBLEM, THE GYNOS WOULD RATHER TAKE OUT YOUR UTERIOUS BECAUSE THERES MONEY THERE FOR THEM. MY GYNO HAPPENS TO BE A WOMAN AND VERY UP ON THIS RARE DISORDER SO DONT FEEL ALONE.....IF YOU NEED MORE INFO JUST CONTACT ME......GOOD LUCK

Thank you so much for the information. My gyno told me that 4 out of the 6 of these veins are main atery veins. Would that make a differnce as far as the surgery? Also I live in New Jersey and cant seem to find a doctor that knows much about this. Mine just keeps saying nothing can be done.

I also have been diagnosed with PCS. I had a laproscopy a few months ago, and this was discovered, I am scheduled in 2 weeks for a hysterectomy. The pain I am experiencing has been getting increasingly worse, and my everyday life I feel is now being robbed of normal activities. I have not been getting very good sleep either because of this. I do have a past of other problems, so I am in favor of the hysterectomy, and I have been going to my Gyno Guy for a few years and feel confident with him and value his opinion. He always listens to me, never makes me feel rushed, and is sensitive to my concerns. I am 46 so I am agreeable with this. I am curious though "how" a hysterectomy will cure all this pain I am having. I have had Varicose Veins in my legs treated, and some surgically removed so I am familiar with those! I just hope this "IS" the answer to my problem having a hysterectomy.

Hello, I am 21 years old and at the first of the month I had laparoscopy for endometriosis. I had this surgery done when I was 13 for ruptured oviarian cysts. When the got in their they found I had severe adhesions and pelvic congestion syndrome. The only thing they said they could do for it is put me on anti-depressants. I don't want to do this. I had a son almost a year ago, and they said it would not affect my fertility. I don't know much about this PCS and wondered if someone did and if you could please email any info. Thank you

I think that if you are considering UAE for treatment of Pelvic Congestion or Fibroids that you might be interested in the site: http://www.uterinefibroids.com/c_uae.htm Which has excellent information, with a well written personal account and links to an incredible amount of excellent and reliable information.

Hello; I have just been diagosed with PCS. I need to have the venous embolization done, but noone at the institution that I am cared for seems to know where and who can perform the procedure. My case is a bit more complicated because the vein coming from my L. kidney is occluded but has formed venules. Does anyone know a hospital in the North east that does this procedure. Thank-you

I'm not to familiar with Pelvic Congestion? What exactly is it? I also have major varicose veins that start at my pelvic and go straight down to my ankle. Does this mean that I also have this condition? If so what happens when you have this? Any information that someone can give me I'd greatly appreciate it. I don't get any straight answers from my vascular doctors.

Hi. I know only what I have been told when asking doctors questions and reading information in medical books and on medical websites. Yes, pelvic congestion syndrome or pelvic venous incompetence is a disorder which is essentially a pelvic varicosity. A genetic predisposition can contribute to it, as well as hormonal disorders such as PCOS and other, abdominal tumors or, I believe the torsion of some ovarian cysts and tumors, increased pressure on the pelvis as with a pregnancy, and, failure to climax after being sexually aroused. I may find, in short order, that I am suffering from pelvic congestion, otherwise known as pelvic venous incompetence. Yes, it does cause varying degrees of pain but some women have this condition and are asymptomatic, if I have understood the literature correctly. It also seems that any treatment that might be performed is not quite ideal. There is embolization which can be very helpful in some cases, sclerotherapy is also apparently performed on these veins, however, I believe that in some cases the lack of efficient blood supply that can sometimes occur to some reproductive structures can also threaten fertility, if I remember correctly.

I am certainly not an expert nor do I know whether you are a candidate for this at all or since the other procedure may have precluded you from this, but I have read that sclerotherapy is used for pelvic congestion or pelvic vein incompetence.